2017 PELOTON Gravel MOB Results

Posted On 20 Nov 2017

Another PELOTON Gravel MOB is in the books and this was the best one yet! At 8:30am on Saturday, November 18th our biggest field (SOLD OUT!) ever rolled out under blue skies with temperatures in the low 70s. After a light rain on Thursday the dirt was of the ‘hero’ variety and conditions were perfect. Considering it was the strongest field ever, boasting multiple former Gravel MOB champs, Dirty Kanza winners, Gravel World Champions and even some real world champions of the UCI XC MTB and ITU Triathlon variety, we expected some fast and aggressive racing!

PELOTON

Our field, over 200 strong, was going to test themselves on 58miles and 8000′ of climbing above the gorgeous Ojai Valley. While the pace was fast at the front, for the majority of riders the Gravel MOB is about testing themselves on one of the most challenging courses in all of gravel riding.

The field quickly broke apart on the first climb, Sulphur Mountain, with a led group including Menso de Jong, Craig Richey, Ryan Steers, Jordan Rapp, Ned Overend and Neil Shirley. Neil would flat on Sulphur Mountain, taking him out of the battle to come on the next massive climb, Sisar–eight miles of fire road gaining over 3000′. The bottom is steep and nasty, with water crossings and loose rocks. Craig Richey found himself over geared with a 42/32 combo and decided he might as well push the pace from the bottom if he wouldn’t be able to spin with the group. By the top, only last year’s winner, Ryan Steers, was with Richey. Menso de Jong was 30seconds back and another minute or so behind was the ageless legend, Ned Overend, nursing a flat tire. Steers, Richey and Menso would roll out of the aid station together, while Ned lost about four minutes wrestling with a stuck tubeless valve.

Craig Richey (left) and Ryan Steers at the summit of the Sisar Canyon Road climb having distanced the rest of the field.

Across the Nordhoff ridge line at over 4000′ of elevation Menso set a blistering pace on the rollers trying to distance Steers and Richey, but in the end he could not shake the other two. In the true spirit of the event, as they began the long descent down Rose Valley and back to Ojai, they decided to roll in together, all crossing the line in the same time – 4:02:57 – as equal first.

Mesno de Jong would catch Richey and Steers at aid station two at the summit of Sisar.

It was likely an easy decision since the PELOTON Gravel MOB is less about who finishes first and more about who just finishes. We save all the prizes for our post ride party raffle, giving the rider that finishes last as much chance to win as the rider that finishes first. Thanks to our amazing sponsors – Easton Cycling, Salsa Cycles, Panaracer, Muc-Off, Giordana, GU-Energy – we had over 40 different items to giveaway, including two grand prizes from Easton Cycling.

As riders arrived back at The MOB Shop – our partners for this event – they were greeted with all you can eat tacos from Ojai’s own Tortilla House and beer from the Topa-Topa Brewing Co. We’ll be announcing the date for the 2018 PELOTON Gravel MOB soon. It will sell out and we want to ride with you, so stay tuned for registration info and don’t delay!

Ben Edwards has been bike racing since 1987. After a long detour into the motion picture industry he plotted his return to cycling. Follow @pelotonmagazine on Instagram and Twitter to get the latest on what and where Ben's riding.